Our website uses cookies to improve your user experience. If you continue browsing, we assume that you consent to our use of cookies. More information can be found in our Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

Facebook responds to backlash. But that’s not a good privacy approach.

Facebook has a long battered history with its customers. Users are so notoriously uppity about any minor change to Facebook’s interface or settings that there’s a satiric group on the site called I AUTOMATICALLY HATE THE NEW FACEBOOK HOME PAGE.

But Mark Zuckerberg’s social network stepped in it when it launched instant personalization last month. The privacy settings that were unwieldy, confusing and obtuse. It’s gotten so bad that the company’s CEO penned an op-ed in the Washington Post to address the issue.

Starting tomorrow, new “drastically simplified” privacy controls will be available. But privacy problems at Facebook are likely to continue. That’s because Facebook views privacy as a moving target defined by its bottom line rather than its commitment to users.

Mark Zuckerberg admits that his company has made some mistakes. He writes in The Washington Post:

“The biggest message we have heard recently is
that people want easier control over their information. Simply put,
many of you thought our controls were too complex. Our intention was to
give you lots of granular controls; but that may not have been what many
of you wanted. We just missed the mark.”

Some weren’t appeased by Zuckerberg’s mea culpa. According to The
Atlantic:

“When
Zuckerberg goes national with equivocal statements like the ones
above about privacy and user expectations, he damages the potential of
his brand and his ideas.”

The main issue with Facebook’s moveable ideas on privacy are customer expectations — and their commitment to the product. Many people have developed complex, deep relationships with the social network that they’re not going to give up easily.

“Those with the most to gain from Facebook are the least likely to leave, even if they also have the most to lose.”

Boyd, a Microsoft researcher, notes that it’s people who don’t use Facebook much that are abandoning the service. Like Newsweek‘s Dan Lyons, who writes:

“I’ve deactivated my account. I never used Facebook much anyway, so it’s not such a big deal.”

Lyons’ main issue with Facebook is that the social network is making business decisions based on advertiser interest:

“The truth is, Zuckerberg needs your data. His business is built
upon it. The most important thing to understand about Facebook is that
you are not Facebook’s customer, you are its inventory. You are the
product Facebook is selling. Facebook’s real customers are advertisers.
You, as a Facebook member, are useful only because you can be packaged
up and sold to advertisers. The more information Facebook can get from
you, the more you are worth. In response, a FB spokesman told me: “I’m
sorry you feel that way.””

Tech reporters leaving Facebook is not going to kill the social network. What it may do is draw more attention to the issue of consumer privacy.

In this case, it worked. Tomorrow, there will be simpler privacy controls for Facebook users. Chris Cox, vice president for product at the company, said at TechCrunch Disrupt that “It’s been a humbling couple of weeks for us.”

Hopefully the new settings will also make it easier for users to do what they want with their information — whether that means making it public, restricting access, or opting out of all third party marketing, which is not currently possible.

“It’s really important that those in power listen to what it is that
people are upset about. The worst thing that those in power can do is
ignore what’s going on, waiting for it to go away. This is a bad idea,
not because people will walk away, but because they will look to greater
authorities of power to push back. This is why Facebook’s failure to
address what’s going on invites regulation.”

Facebook is on track to bring in $1 billion in revenues this year. The
site has 500 million members, up from 400 million only four months ago. It’s a good thing that Facebook is addressing the concerns of its users (tech reporters included this week. But the company should also be learning from its mistakes. And as following Facebook’s business policies for any length of time proves, that’s not always the case.

Recommended

Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg may be the most successful 26 year-old technology entrepreneur in the world right now, but he sure isn’t making it look easy. His company finds itself being attacked for its position on user privacy, and the attacks have turned personal.

While Zuckerberg’s character has been called into question before, the increased scrutiny on Facebook seems to be producing a steady stream of facts that don’t show Zuckerberg in the best light.

Companies are pouring billions of dollars a year into social media and influencer marketing campaigns, many of which target consumers on Facebook-owned Instagram, in an effort to parlay social engagement into sales.